I have a bazillion [hyperbole] questions about camping on the continent.

[SlubberdeSuetPudding]

DH announced this weekend that he has got six weeks off in the summer for us to go camping abroad.

The last time I camped on the continent I was 12, we had a big orange frame tent and English men wore sandals and socks with no shame.

I have not done a family camp yet somewhere that is HOT. Properly hot sit in your shorts at 10pm with a cold drink hot.

The very vaguest of plans is to do Germany, Austria, Switzerland and then maybe back up through France.

Here are some of the questions:

Anything else we need to do to the car apart from stick those stickers on the headlights?

Car breakdown cover, how does that work then?

No EHU. How do we keep things cold? Can you do ice block exchange over there? Do we need a deeply impressive new esky?

Is it very hot at night? I'm going to be too hot in a 3/4 season down sleeping bag aren't I? What is the best bedding to take?

Maps. Tell me about maps.

Should we book all our campsites in advance or can we be breezy? How booked up do the campsites get over there in advance?

Anything we absolutely HAVE to take that might be additional or different to two weeks camping in the UK?

Good campsite review website in addition to ukcs?

Um what else.

Strategies to avoid long term campers crack-up please.

OMG slubber! i am soo jealous.

we went to germany last year but it was too hot! you can get european breakdown cover from your normal break down people.

we normally go at start or end of season so have been ok rocking up at campsites but you might want to book some in advance.

maps - some are better than others i would investigate in a real shop before purchasing.

cold - lots of places do the cool blocks.

alan rogers is good for european campsites. we found it hard to get info on german campsites oddly and some that looked good online were shitholes when we turned up. they also tend to be obsessed with 'wellness'

french campsites are fabulous and lots of good info. the municipals are cheaper and normally great.

6 weeks in a tent - Wow!

Have you tried the Campaing and Carvanning club website - I'm sure there's a chart on there telling you what you need to have in different countries. In France we had to take hi-vis vests, spare bulbs and those stickers (probably other stuff as well)

We went to northern France in August. It rained every day and it was freezing.

Sorry can't help any further, but good luck!

the fact that you call it " the continent" reveals that you last went in the 70s

mountatious countried will rain
take rain coats

we take our cheap thin 4 tog duvet rahter than dicking about with sleeping bags

yes to rain, we had some fabulous thunderstorms last year. and yes to duvet.

also even if i had 6 weeks i would still just do france, they have the best campsites.

alright bitchy
how are you?

i am good! enjoying your comeback.

i have nothing drole to say.
its been removed from my very core

you need to eat something! have a bit of celery

Get a TomTom but also a big book of European road maps as well.

Fridge box for in the car, and stay in a camp site where you have access to electricity on each pitch. Get a plug adapter.

For your car: you need the light stickers, and an emergency triangle, first aid kit and fluoro vests. And maybe onther things I can't remember.

Book up in advance, especially in July and August which are the school holidays on the continent.

Good luck!

yes the light stickers are always good for a stressy argument on the boat

your dh will have to invest in some speedos

Har at speedos. They are on the list.

Oi then cod, what am I meant to call it? Can't call it Europe as we are Europe too are we not. "overseas" is a bit nobby.

Ok am making notes about triangles and high vis jackets.

What is wellness DB?

We want to do Germany because of food and childhood reminisces. Am V shocked some sights were shitty.

Sites not sights. Although am sure there are shitty sights all over the shop.

Cen you get some sort of two way adaptor for the cigarette lighter? Need power for DVD players and can't work out how to do a sat nav too at the same time.

wellness is sauna etc. i found germany just too crowded but i suppose scotland spoils you in that respect.

put dvd players on battery and charge at night. just get an ehu.

tbh we managed with a gps and even at one point without a map.

No to EHU. No no.

You know where that ends don't you (the pageant)

DVD players only work off the fag lighter.

I wouldn't assume it will be hot at night. I made that mistake once, camping in Italy in August. 3 thunderstorms in 2 days in the hills above Florence. We froze.

My experience is that you can find campsites in most countries without booking, even in high summer. Especially the more basic sort.

arf @ pagent - you know you want to.

Ok that is good to hear Fennel. Don't want to have everything planned military campaign style.

Is there such a thing as a stuffable sleeping bag style duvet? Space is going to be the biggest problem because of non negotiable towing ishoos.

I know naff all about camping (but hoping to pick up tips here for our proposed trip this summer). But a couple of other things you mention I can help with:

If you're going to drive in Switzerland you need a Vignette - basically a ticket that entitles you to use the motorways. You can get one here before you go.

You can get a connector to split your cigarette lighter in two e.g. this. You say your DVD player plugs into the lighter, but alternatively we have an adaptor which has a UK plug socket and a USB connecter and we plug this in to the cig lighter socket, and then run chargers etc from this.

Good luck!

do you have roof box? we went camping one year with ginormous tent, and my brother adn his camping stuff and bikes and duvets. it can be done, use the force

Mainland Europe ?

Yes only really hot INS France and Spain. Maybe s italy